Nick Symmonds in NOH8 Ad

800-meter Olympian considering move up to 1500.

Two-time 800-meter Olympian Nick Symmonds is featured in a new ad by the gender-equality organization NOH8.

"This civil rights issue will be the defining legal movement of our generation. To deny someone the rights afforded to others based on their gender or sexual orientation defies logic and is completely un-American," Symmonds says in the ad.

Symmonds appears to be the first track and field Olympian to appear in the organization's popular campaign.

Symmonds has been busy on several fronts lately. He's currently training in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, with Leo Manzano, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist at 1500 meters.

"I am considering a move up to the 1500," Symmonds told Runner's World Newswire by e-mail. "Coach [Mark] Rowland and I have always known that we would be making that step up at some point and we are now trying to decide what is the best year to do so." Symmonds says he's training with Manzano "to get a first-hand idea of what it's like to train for the 1500."

For those interested in a first-hand idea of what it's like to train for the 800 at an elite level, Symmonds is selling copies of 2012 training log, which details his preparation for his second Olympic Trials win and his fifth-place showing in a personal best of 1:42.95 at the Olympics. Symmonds will likely train similarly this year, as he says he's going to continue to concentrate on the 800 for the 2013 world championships.

Next weekend, Symmonds will race Duane Solomon, who finished just ahead of Symmonds at the Olympics, at the Millrose Games. The two will be targeting the American indoor 600-meter mark of 1:15.70 that Solomon set on January 26. While in New York, Symmonds hopes to have a dinner date with model Michelle Vawler.